Reward processing: a global brain phenomenon?

Rewards and punishments (reinforcement) powerfully shape behavior. Accordingly, their neuronal representation is of significant interest, both for understanding normal brain-behavior relationships and the pathophysiology of disorders such as depression and addiction. A recent article by Vickery and colleagues (Neuron 72: 166-177, 2011) provides evidence that the neural response to rewards and punishments is surprisingly widespread, suggesting the need for examination of the specific roles of areas not commonly included in the canonical reward circuitry in processing reinforcement.